Plenary Council Members applaud the closing of the Fifth Plenary Council of Australia, Saturday 9 July 2022. Photo: Fiona Basile/ACBC. The nine-month celebration phase of the Fifth Plenary Council of Australia ended on Saturday, with Council Members standing and applauding as President Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB formally declared the Council closed. Almost four-and-a-half years aft...

Archbishop Costelloe encouraged Members to believe that what the Archangel Gabriel said to the Blessed Virgin Mary is true for them today: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will cover you with its shadow.”

In his homily for the votive Mass Friday 8 July at the Second Assembly of the Fifth Plenary Council, Ballarat Bishop Paul Bird said the mother of Jesus is with us, as she was with those first disciples. Photo: Fiona Basile/ACBC. Members of the Fifth Plenary Council of Australia should persevere in their prayers to the Mother of God, Bishop Paul Bird CSsR said on Friday morning. The Bisho...

Archbishop of Wellington, New Zealand, Cardinal John Dew gave the homily at the Mass on Thursday 7 July, for the Second Assembly of the Fifth Plenary Council at Sydney's St Mary's Cathedral. Photo: Fiona Basile/ACBC. Those gathered for the Fifth Plenary Council of Australia are following in the footsteps of the early Christians, Cardinal John Dew said at Mass on Thursday evening. The Arc...

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By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News Service Pope Francis greets Sister Raffaella Petrini, an Italian member of the US-based Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist, at the Vatican on 3 December 2015. The Holy Father named Sister Petrini to be Secretary-General of the office governing the Vatican City State. Photo: CNS/Vatican Media. Pope Francis said he plans to name two women to the committee t...

In the first afternoon session for Wednesday 7 July, an overwhelming majority of Members backed a motion to reconsider the two motions from Part 4 of the Council’s Motions and Amendments document entitled “Witnessing to the Equal Dignity of Women and Men”.

In an exclusive interview with The Australian this week, incoming Australian Catholic Bishops Conference President and Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB says the Church’s falling support is a “wake-up call” as it works to balance its convictions with the realities of an increasingly secular nation. The Perth Archbishop said the Church needed to be faithful to its core principles a...

All four motions in part 3 of the document – entitled “Called by Christ – Sent Forth as Missionary Disciples” – achieved qualified majorities on both rounds of voting. Two-thirds of voters present must support a motion to achieve a qualified majority. Photo: Fiona Basile/ACBC Members of the Plenary Council are being invited to spend additional time to discern after two motions did not ...